Do you have the time?
A question with so many potential meanings
Do you have the time? This simple yet complex question can evoke so many thoughts. For instance I may look at my watch and make note of the actual time. Perhaps I look at my watch and ask will I be on time. Maybe it is a planning question, will there be enough time, or how much time will I need. I might simply look to a calendar, weather it is on the wall, the desk, the computer, day planner or PDA. This could lead me to ask what kinds of time do I have, there is work time, appointment time, exercise time, time with the kids, time to do work around the house, time for shopping, time to read, time for a favorite show, time for commuting, time with friends and perhaps time for me.
Could there be more? What about the time of year, what season is it? Time for birthdays, holidays, and special days of recognition. Might I look at chronological time, how much time on this earth do I have?
Clearly time is of the essence. Many of the things I read hear or are told, today are time based. Act now while supplies last. Hurry in for today’s sale. For a limited time only. Send this to 10 people in the next three minutes. While you still can. Before it’s too late.
Let me take a moment (of time) and relax, think about who is really in control of my time. How do I want to spend it? Time is my greatest commodity and I will want to use it as wisely as I do any other resource. We are a society of gatherers we gather together and we gather things. No matter what is going on in the world we are constantly gathering something for some greater purpose. I must stop to consider what it is I am gathering and for what purpose? It is so easy to place value on that special gift all wrapped up. Can we begin to place an even greater value on our time?
This season of the year we tend to gather supplies together to make things to share with others, some heartfelt some out of a sense of obligation. And in return we become recipients of other people’s gatherings. Thus the cycle of “stuff” begins. Maybe it is tangible “stuff” or emotional “stuff”, but we are definitely entering the season of “stuff”. Will I enjoy the “stuff” I give? Will I enjoy the “stuff” I receive? Will I find contentment in this new season or will I “stuff” my feelings down?
I propose that we each take the time to ask ourselves some questions. What are we trying to accomplish? Do I want, need or feel obligated to purchase? Do others in my life want, need, or feel obligated to receive? Is today’s gift tomorrow’s yard sale or a lifetime treasure? Was it an after- thought or well thought out?
We can begin to break this cycle. We are “stuffing” so much into ourselves and each other that we are all slowly suffocating on well intentioned “stuff”. The greatest gift we have is time. Time to take care of me, time to spend with my family and friends, time to gather together and connect in a meaningful way, perhaps if we actually spend more time gathering together and less time gathering “stuff”, we would find that in all actuality we want, need and feel less obligated to gather “meaningless “stuff”.
So this season will I begin to “stuff” my shopping cart, “stuff” my home, “stuff” calendar and perhaps “stuff” we must realize that although “stuff” may trigger a memory our memories will far outlast the “stuff”.
This season I am going to choose to do something a bit old fashioned. I will choose to spend my time more wisely on more meaningful things, and more memories!
Seriously have you ever seen memories for sale on e-bay? There simply is no way to price them!
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